German Vocabulary List: Potatoes – Kartoffeln
As mentioned in the post about Friedrich II. of Prussia and his Kartoffelbefehl, Germans love potatoes. The spuds are even counted among the Grundnahrungsmittel = staple foods in the German-speaking...
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In two previous articles on Deutsch Happen I explained how, after some initial hesitance and lack of understanding, the potato made a triumphal arrival in Germany and is today one of the staple foods...
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German Expressions around the Pope
Back in 2005 when the German cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedikt XVI. the popular tabloid Bild ran a front page with his picture and the title Wir sind Papst! We are pope. And though...
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Gedichte zum Frühlingsanfang – Popular German Poems for the First Day of Spring
As you know, Germany is also often called “Das Land der Dichter und Denker” (the nation of poets and thinkers). And there have been a lot of great poets throughout the centuries who built up a treasure...
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German Expressions: Das geht ja wie das Brezelbacken!
Wie das Brezelbacken is often used in a full sentence like in Das geht ja wie das Brezelbacken! or Das klappt ja wie beim Brezelbacken! is a figurative German expression to illustrate that something...
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The 20 Most Common German Words for Money
Geld regiert die Welt, money makes the world go ’round! Though I don’t necessarily agree with that statement, money undoubtedly has been an integral part of almost every society for a long time and...
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German Expressions – Etwas für einen Apfel und ein Ei kaufen
In our series about German expressions, it’s time to learn the meaning of a new one: etwas für einen Apfel und ein Ei kaufen / etwas für ‘n Appel und ‘n Ei kaufen (to buy something for an apple and an...
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Deutsch Happen Summer Reading List for German Learners
Looking at the weather this spring summer still seems far, but I’ve been asked by a couple Deutsch Happen learners for some Buchtipps (m,pl.) – book recommendations for the Sommerpause (f) – summer...
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Freitag, der 13. als Unglückstag und seine Bedeutung
Da heute Freitag, der 13. ist und dies einigen Leuten als Unglückstag gilt, möchte ich in diesem kurzen Artikel den Ursprung dieses Volksglaubens erklären. Freitag als Wochentag gilt vor allem in...
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German Vocabulary List: Jemandem den Stinkefinger zeigen
Weniger als zwei Wochen vor den Bundestagswahlen in Deutschland ist Peer Steinbrück, der Spitzenkandidat für die SPD und dadurch Herausforderer von Kanzlerin Merkel, wieder einmal in den Schlagzeilen....
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